Mike Smith Traded to Flames by Coyotes for Prospects, Draft Pick
Jun 17, 2017
Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith watches a puck as it sails wide of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Monday, March 27, 2017, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Calgary sent the free-agent rights to goalie Chad Johnson, unsigned prospect Brandon Hickey and a conditional third-round pick to Arizona.
Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the third-round pick will become a second-rounder if Calgary makes the playoffs. Also, Arizona will pay 25 percent of Smith's salary.
Smith commented on heading to the Flames, per the team's Twitter account:
The 35-year-old Smith spent the past six seasons with the Coyotes after stints with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2016-17, Smith was 19-26-9 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
His numbers have been pedestrian since 2011-12, when he went 38-18-10 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
Smith was an All-Star last season and is an Olympic gold medalist, and he is in line to be Calgary's starter in 2017-18.
His arrival could spell the departure of free-agent goalie Brian Elliott.
Linesman Don Henderson Reportedly Files Lawsuit Against Flames' Dennis Wideman
Apr 20, 2017
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 27: Dennis Wideman #6 of the Calagary Flames plays the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on December 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
National Hockey League linesman Don Henderson has reportedly filed a civil lawsuit against Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman seeking $10.25 million in damages related to an incident during a January 2016 game.
Rick Westhead of The Sports Network reported details of the suit Thursday.
Wideman was on the receiving end of a heavy hit in the corner during a game against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27, 2016. Then, on his way to the bench, the defenseman cross-checked Henderson from behind into the boards.
The veteran blue-liner released a statement about the situation the following week:
Firstly, I want to apologize to Donnie Henderson. I feel awful about what happened. Hopefully, he's recovering and he's going to be back on the ice soon, but I feel really bad about the whole situation. The last seven days have been tough.
Never in my career have I ever disrespected or done anything like this to an official. I think I've prided myself on having a great working relationship with the officials, and I hope to continue that when I get out there. But again, I just want to apologize to Donnie. I feel awful about what happened.
The NHL announced a 20-game suspension for the check due to a violation of Rule 40, which covers the "physical abuse of officials." Independent arbitrator James Oldham later reduced the punishment to 10 games, saying there wasn't enough evidence to consider it an "intentional action."
Last February, sources told ESPN that Henderson dealt with concussion symptoms in the aftermath of the hit. A month later, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe reported the linesman needed neck surgery to "repair damage from the hit," and friends weren't sure whether he'd ever return to action.
Wideman appeared in 57 games for the Flames during the 2016-17 regular season. Henderson hasn't officiated an NHL game since the hit.
Dennis Wideman Suspension Reduction Upheld by Judge
Mar 15, 2017
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 03: Dennis Wideman #6 of the Calgary Flames skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. The Flames defeated the Devils 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports reported the NHL lost an appeal of a neutral arbitrator's decision to reduce Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's suspension from 20 games to 10 for hitting a linesman.
Wideman hit linesman Don Henderson in a game on Jan. 27, 2016, and was initially suspended 20 games, but he and the NHLPA appealed to neutral arbitrator James Oldham, who reduced the penalty to 10 games.
The NHL appealed that decision to a New York district court judge, but that judge decided Wednesday the reduction of the penalty was "within the scope" of the arbitrator's ruling, per Wyshynski.
The NHL released a statement on the decision, per NHL.com:
We obviously disagree with the court's decision today, but also recognize the very high judicial standard we needed to meet to disturb the arbitrator's decision. While we believe we met that standard, we are prepared to turn the page and move on. We are hopeful that, if and when there is next an appeal proceeding involving supplementary discipline, the Neutral Discipline Arbitrator will properly apply the standard of review we and the NHLPA negotiated and agreed to in collective bargaining. That was clearly not done in this case.
Wyshynski noted Wideman's hit concussed the linesman and prompted the NHL to turn to Rule 40.2 in handing out the initial 20-game suspension. The rule says "any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure."
The NHLPA said in its appeal Wideman was concussed by a hit that occurred right before he struck the linesman, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 20-game suspension at first even upon appeal.
That's when Wideman and the NHLPA turned to Oldham, although Wyshynski wrote the NHL fired Oldham and said he "overstepped his stated duties" by reviewing evidence himself instead of just deciding whether Bettman's punishment was supported by said evidence.
Even though Oldham was fired, New York Southern District Judge Alison J. Nathan upheld the suspension reduction Wednesday.
As for Wideman, he has 17 points in 54 games this season for a Flames team that is 39-26-4 and in second place in the Pacific Division behind the San Jose Sharks.
Flames' Matthew Tkachuk Skates off Ice with Sharks' Brent Burns' Stick
Jan 12, 2017
San Jose Sharks star Brent Burns registered a goal and an assist during the opening period of Wednesday night's game against the Calgary Flames. Desperate to slow down the defenseman, Matthew Tkachuk found a foolproof plan.
He can't score without a stick.
During the second period, the 19-year-old stole Burns' stick and refused to give it back. The rookie skated back to Calgary's bench with his opponent's stick, which cost his team a two-minute penalty.
Anyone confused is not alone, as Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan struggled to make sense of the situation during the postgame press conference.
"I don't know," he said in exasperation. "It was in his gut, and then it was in his pants, and then it was in our bench. I'm sure he could have handed it back, but if you know the kid, he's not going to hand it back."
Kindergarten teachers have probably watched the same incident unfold numerous times, but it's a new NHL tactic.
Johnny Gaudreau Injury: Updates on Flames LW's Recovery from Finger Surgery
Nov 16, 2016
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames starts a rush during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau suffered a broken finger on Nov. 15 and had surgery to repair the injury on Nov. 16. However, he is ready to return.
The Flames announced Gaudreau will have surgery on his fractured finger on Nov. 16. John Shannon of Sportsnet initially reported the news.
Gulutzan Comments on Injury
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan noted after the game against the Minnesota Wild that Gaudreau had taken a "couple of slashes," per the team's official Twitter account.
Injury Rare Occurrence for Gaudreau
The 23-year-old hasn't had many injury issues to this point in his career and is quickly becoming one of the top offensive players in the league.
In his first two full seasons, Gaudreau produced 142 total points, showcasing his ability as both a scorer and a facilitator. Not only did he lead the team last season in both goals (30) and assists (48), his 78 points tied for sixth in the NHL.
Calgary rewarded the left wing with a long-term deal at the start of the season worth $40.5 million over six years.
"We all know that Johnny is a tremendous player," general manager Brad Treliving said before completing the deal, per Kristen Odland of the Calgary Sun. "He's a significant part of our team, a significant part of our community."
Sean Monahan, Flames Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
Aug 19, 2016
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 16: Sean Monahan #23 of the Winnipeg Jets in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 16, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
The Calgary Flames and center Sean Monahan reached an agreement Friday on a new seven-year contract extension.
The Flames announced the deal on their official site. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported the deal is expected to check in at around $6.3 million per season.
Monahan is just 21 and has already put up back-to-back 60-point campaigns for the Flames. He tallied 27 goals and 36 assists in 81 games last season. His scoring output ranked second on the team behind linemate Johnny Gaudreau (78 points).
In all, the sixth overall selection in the 2013 draft has scored 159 points in 237 games across three seasons in the NHL.
The previously restricted free agent stated during an interview with TSN in July that he wanted to remain in a Flames uniform for the foreseeable future, via NHL.com.
"I definitely want to be there for a long time," Monahan said. "So I would prefer a longer-term contract, but that's not up for me to decide. So I think I want to be there, I want to be in Calgary for the rest of my career, so that's something that I'm looking forward to doing."
The new contract will take him about halfway to meeting that goal. It's an ideal situation for the center, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in what's typically the middle of a player's prime, which should mean he'll score at least one more lucrative contract, either with Calgary or another team.
On the flip side, it's a solid investment in the future for the Flames. Micah Blake McCurdy of HockeyViz passed along a look at the rising star's solid advanced statistics:
Sean Monahan (~$40m deal with flames) has first line scoring numbers, neutral shot numbers on a weak shot team. pic.twitter.com/MLyFzPoWJ0
Now the focus for the Calgary front office will shift to Gaudreau. The 23-year-old winger is also a restricted free agent after forming a dynamic one-two punch with Monahan over the past two years en route to 142 points in 159 games.
Monahan's contract will set the baseline for negotiations, with Johnny Hockey likely to receive a little more in base salary. Together they will take up a sizable portion of the team's cap, but the Flames will hope they provide plenty of bang for the buck in the years ahead.
Troy Brouwer to Flames: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Jul 1, 2016
SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 19: Troy Brouwer #36 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
Troy Brouwer experienced plenty of success during his lone year with the St. Louis Blues, but the veteran winger moved on from the 2015-16 Western Conference finalists Fridaywhen he agreed to a deal with the Calgary Flames.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Brouwer inked a four-year contract worth $4.5 million per season. Roger Millions of Sportsnet confirmed the signing.
Brouwer figures to take on a top-six forward role with the Flames and could potentially skate on the team's top line alongside the dynamic duo of Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.
Coming off a strong 2014-15 season with the Washington Capitals that saw Brouwer tally 21 goals and 22 assists, the winger adjusted seamlessly to new surroundings following an offseason trade.
In 82 appearances—he hasn't missed a regular-season game in three years—Brouwer notched 18 goals and 21 assists as a key member of the Blues' second line. His best efforts, though, came in the playoffs.
Over the course of 20 postseason appearances, Brouwer stuffed stat sheets with eight goals and five assists, including a game-winning score in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blues proceeded to march through the playoffs all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they were ultimately sent packing in six games. However, Brouwer was strong as the series wound to a close. After posting two goals in a 6-3 Game 4 win, Brouwer found twine once more in Game 5.
While he won't carry a team's offense on his back—he's topped 20 goals in three of his 10 seasons to date—Brouwer is a strong supplementary scorer and distributor who can do the dirty work and grind in both zones.
After reaching the playoffs in 2014-15, Calgary experienced a significant regression last season, finishing 12th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs by 10 points.
Brouwer gives the Flames a combination of scoring touch and snarl that wasn't present throughout much of their lineup in 2015-16.
The four-year term is a bit of a gamble since Brouwer is already 30, but if he brings the same style and production to Calgary that he showed in St. Louis last year, then the Flames picked up a player who should make them far more difficult to play against.
Glen Gulutzan to Flames: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Jun 17, 2016
FILE- In this April 25, 2013, file photo, Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan watches play from behind the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Dallas. The Stars fired Gulutzan on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, after he failed to make the playoffs in two seasons at the helm. (AP Photo/Matt Strasen, File)
He will fill the vacancy left by Bob Hartley, who was fired in May after the Flames went 35-40-7 for 77 points while missing the playoffs last season. Details of his contract with the Flames have not been disclosed as of yet.
The 44-year-old Gulutzan has had prior head coaching experience in the NHL, spending two years with the Dallas Stars from 2011 to 2013, as he led the team to a 64-57-9 record.
After he was fired at the end of the 2012-13 season after not making the postseason, Gulutzan joined the staff of the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach, where he's spent the past three years.
Now, he takes the reins of a Flames team that is loaded with young talent. The team's two leading scorers, Johnny Gaudreau with 30 goals and Sean Monahan with 27, were 22 and 21 years old, respectively, last season.
On defense, there's a 21-goal scorer in Mark Giordano along with a promising young blueliner in Dougie Hamilton, who celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday. He recorded 43 points during his first year with the Flames after being traded by the Boston Bruins during the 2015 draft.
Along with other young talent, such as 19-year-old Sam Bennett, who scored 18 goals in his rookie season, Gulutzan sees the youngsters as a cornerstone for something special, per the Flames' official Twitter account: "A really good young base, that's what I see here. ... It's a team on the cusp."
However, Gulutzan will have to address the Flames' problem in goal as they allowed a league-worst 260 goals last season. Three different goalies, Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller and Joni Orto, appeared in 20 or more games during the season, and none of them had a save percentage better than .909.
If Gulutzan is able to find a solution to that problem, then the Flames can start building their way up to being a dangerous threat in the Western Conference.
Flames Head Coach Search: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on Vacant Position
May 11, 2016
Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo watches from the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Calgary Flames are reportedly beginning to ramp up their efforts to find a new head coach after firing Bob Hartley following the season.
Continue for updates.
Gulutzan Reportedly Targeted by Flames
Wednesday, May 25
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Sun passed along confirmation from Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning that the Flames requested permission to interview assistant coach Glen Gulutzan.
Flames Request Interview With Coveted Coaching Target
Wednesday, May 11
Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday that Calgary general manager Brad Treliving is expected to meet with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo after the Flames put in a request with the Minnesota front office.
Yeo was relieved of his coaching duties by the Wild back in February. He signed a three-year contract extension in May 2014, however, which means he's still under the Minnesota organizational umbrella, and the team must give clearance for him to interview elsewhere.
The 42-year-old coach spoke with Russo shortly after his exit from the Wild bench after four-plus seasons, which featured three playoff appearances but just two playoff series victories.
"I'm a winner," Yeo said. "Everywhere I've gone at every level. As a player, assistant coach, head coach, I've won. This is the only place that I've been where I haven’t gone to the finals or won a championship. And I think I just ran out of time for that."
He accumulated a 173-132-44 record during his time in Minnesota, according to Hockey-Reference. His .559 points percentage ranks 70th all-time among NHL head coaches, nine spots above Hartley (.554), the coach he could replace in Calgary.
The Flames are facing competition for his services, though. Russo reported Tuesday the Anaheim Ducks, who fired Bruce Boudreau, received permission to speak with Yeo. Boudreau has since joined the Wild as part of the coaching carousel.
Flames' Next Coach Will Have Young Talent to Build Contender
Ultimately, whichever coach lands with the Flames will acquire a roster that vastly underperformed en route to the NHL's fifth-lowest points total. The team's 77 points represented a 20-point drop off from the 2014-15 campaign.
It's a group that does feature some promising young talent with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett and Dougie Hamilton. The franchise also owns the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft to acquire another piece for the future.
All told, the front office must find a coach with a system to get those rising stars to perform on a consistent basis while also seeking a way to improve the league's worst goaltending situation.
Bob Hartley Fired by Calgary Flames: Latest Comments and Reaction
May 3, 2016
Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley gives instructions during an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The Calgary Flames fired head coach Bob Hartley on Tuesday after finishing with the NHL's fifth-lowest point total during the regular season.
The Flames confirmed the decision on their official site. The announcement noted associate coach Jacques Cloutier is also being let go as part of the staff changes.
"This decision was not based solely on this season," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said, per Eric Francis of Sportsnet. "Bob has taken this team as far as I feel he can take it."
Hartley took over as the Flames coach ahead of the 2012-13 campaign. The team made noticeable strides during his first two years in charge before qualifying for the playoffs last season. It went on to edge the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round before getting eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks.
That success led to higher expectations heading into this season. Calgary came nowhere close to meeting that standard, however, as it finished with a 35-40-7 record and missed the postseason by 10 points in the Western Conference.
Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press further highlighted that fall from grace:
Less than a year ago, Bob Hartley accepted Jack Adams as NHL coach of the year. Now he's fired as coach of #Flames.
The Flames also failed to receive any luck in Saturday's NHL draft lottery and were leapfrogged by the Winnipeg Jets, dropping them to sixth in the draft order. It brought a frustrating end to a mostly forgettable season for the organization.
In turn, the front office has decided to move in a new direction after Hartley posted a 134-135-25 record across four years. Although it may take some time before the top replacement candidates emerge, expect the team to focus on finding somebody with a more possession-based system.
Todd Cordell of HockeyBuzz showcased the lackluster numbers from the Hartley era:
Here is how the Flames performed at 5v5 during Hartley's tenure as head coach. Never above 50% in any major cat. pic.twitter.com/sXN315AZ1F
Hartley enjoyed a lot of success early in his coaching career with a talent-laden Colorado Avalanche squad. The group, led by the likes of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy, made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2001.
He has split 10 seasons behind the bench between the Avalanche, Flames and Atlanta Thrashers since that initial run of success and qualified for the postseason just twice. The mediocre advanced stats during his time in Calgary aren't conducive to long-term success.
The Flames' new coach will inherit a roster with promising pieces like Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett. But the front office still has a lot of work to do filling out the roster, starting with a goaltender position that was a black hole this season.
Meanwhile, Hartley may get another chance based on his prior success in Colorado. That said, while waiting for that next opportunity, he'd benefit from looking into systems such as Darryl Sutter's approach with the Los Angeles Kings that have yielded more consistent possession success.
